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FINGER RING
Unique ID: PAS-4EA424
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A complete but distorted gold finger ring set with a carnelian in an oval bezel. The hoop is 1.2mm wide and ovoid in section, widening to flat triangular terminals where it is joined to the bezel. This join is strengthened by a strip of gold wrapped round the ends of the hoops. The back of the bezel is an applied flat plate, with a central circular pierced hole. The raised oval setting is formed from another sheet of gold folded and pinched at the top of the oval. Around it at the base is a border of twisted gold wire, with filigree beaded wire above this. The carnelian is oval with a flat top and shows no trace of decoration.
Wt.: 1.92g; length 20.5mm, bezel 12.9mm long, 10.5mm wide and 4mm thick.
Discussion: The ring is not recognizably Roman, Medieval or Post-Medieval in date on the basis of style. Analysis (appended below) showed a high gold content, which while not out of keeping with a Roman date, does not preclude a later one. It is possible (from the higher copper content of the alloy and the style) that the ring is of modern Indian origin.
Notes:
As this item cannot be shown to be more than 300 years old it does not qualify as Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act 1996.
Update: compare NMS-EC2F91 (2020T552) which has a similar flat-topped carnelian and was an odd finger-ring, not easy to date; on the balance of probabilities, an early-medieval date was preferred for 2020T552.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being declared not Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2016T496
Chronology
Broad period: UNKNOWN
Period from: UNKNOWN
Period to: UNKNOWN
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 20.5 mm
Weight: 1.92 g
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2016T496
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold
Secondary material: Gem
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: South Oxfordshire (District)
Parish or ward: Lewknor (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU7097
Four figure Latitude: 51.66742567
Four figure longitude: -0.98924246
1:25K map: SU7097
1:10K map: SU79NW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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